19.31. You are driving at night in a vehicle, and there are no other vehicles ahead. Are you allowed to turn on the high beam headlights?
UAВи рухаєтесь вночі на транспортному засобі, попереду немає інших транспортних засобів. Чи дозволено Вам увімкнути фари дальнього світла?
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This exam question from the Traffic Rules of Ukraine concerns road safety at night and the correct use of external lighting devices. The choice of headlights a driver makes at night affects both their own visibility of the road and whether a danger is created for other road users due to glare. Such situations often occur on rural roads and are regularly tested in the theoretical exam.
The question checks knowledge of Section 19 of the Traffic Rules, specifically clause 19.1 (a), which requires the use of either low or high beam headlights on motor vehicles during hours of darkness. If there are no oncoming or preceding vehicles, the driver is allowed to choose high beams for better visibility of the roadway and roadside, since the requirement to switch to low beams arises only when there is a risk of dazzling others (this is detailed in clause 19.2).
The analysis of the answer options comes down to simple logic: the statement about permission corresponds to the rule, because at night it is allowed to use high beams in the absence of those who could be dazzled, and this increases control over the road situation. The option about prohibition would only be correct if there were oncoming traffic or when approaching a vehicle in front at a distance where the light could interfere, but on an empty road such a prohibition is not established by the rules. In practice, this knowledge helps to choose a safe speed and to switch headlights in a timely manner so as not to endanger others.
Clause 19.1 (a) (Section 19 "Use of External Lighting Devices")
At night and in conditions of insufficient visibility, regardless of the degree of road illumination, as well as in tunnels, the following must be switched on in the vehicle:
a) on all motor vehicles — low beam (high beam) headlights.
Brief application: the clause directly allows the use of either low beam or high beam headlights at night (provided the restrictions regarding dazzling other road users are observed).
Clause 19.2 (Section 19 "Use of External Lighting Devices")
High beam headlights should be switched to low beam:
a) when approaching an oncoming vehicle at a distance of no less than 250 m to the oncoming vehicle;
b) when a vehicle ahead is at such a distance that the high beam may dazzle its driver;
c) in cases when the driver of an oncoming vehicle signals the need for this by switching their headlights.
Brief application: if there are no vehicles ahead (neither in the same direction nor oncoming) and there is no risk of dazzling, there is no obligation to switch to low beam.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Allowed," given that according to the Traffic Rules, at night, both low beam and high beam headlights may be used on motor vehicles, and restrictions on high beam apply only in the presence of other road users who could be dazzled.
At night, the driver is required to ensure sufficient visibility of the road and be visible to others. That is why the Rules stipulate that at night, the headlights must be turned on in a motor vehicle, and both low beam and high beam headlights are permitted.
Clause 19.1 (a) allows driving at night with either low beam or high beam headlights turned on. That is, the choice of lighting mode depends on the road situation: if the road ahead is clear and there are no vehicles either in the same or oncoming direction, the driver may turn on the high beam to better see the roadway and the roadside.
At the same time, it is important to remember the general safety principle: high beams should not cause glare to other road users. Therefore, as soon as an oncoming vehicle appears or you approach a vehicle ahead, the high beam must be promptly switched to low beam.
Therefore, the correct answer is "Allowed.", since at night, according to clause 19.1 (a), high beams may be used when it does not interfere with other road users and there are no vehicles ahead.